Racial discrimination is a common act seen throughout many short stories; old and new. Kate Chopin wrote "Desiree's baby" within a heavily segregated time and location, which played a major role in the development of one of her themes, that is; betrayal. "Desiree's baby" took place in Creole, Louisiana: a well-known area of the Antebellum South where miscegenation was largely criticized, and was written during the mid-nineteenth century, prior to the American civil war. This short story is a primary example of how segregation can lead to the abandonment of loved ones. Chopin portrays the effect of racial prejudice through Desiree, Armand, and their child; for they all experience betrayal and brokenness as a result of the racial indifferences
Chopin is a forward thinking author who wrote for women and minorities. Racism and gender bias are problems that have continued to persist in our society despite activism attempting to rid our world of it. Identity is another problem many people have trouble muddling through. Chopin tackles relevant issues she witnessed in her lifetime of racism, gender bias, and identity issues utilizing the literary elements of foreshadowing, irony, symbolism, figures of speech, misleading of the reader, imagery, and setting; the literary devices assist in emphasizing the expectations Armand feels he must live up to because of the responsibility of his wealthy, powerful name by exacting a harsh rule on his slaves, commanding absolute supremacy over women, and casting away the wife and child he supposedly once loved so much even though he himself is partially black one. While Armand’s father possesses a more lax rule over his slaves, “Young Aubigny’s rule was a strict one, too, and under it his negroes had forgotten how to be gay, as they had been during the old master’s easy-going and indulgent lifetime.” High amounts of respect is given to dominant, in charge men especially during the Antebellum time period which is when this short story took place.
The black man on the back porch is afraid of the rattle snake because it is bad luck, or the innocent little slave is quick to believe everything one tells them at the drop of the hat. These are just some of the many racist stereotypes of the 1840s. A character named Jim is the star African American whom Twain bestoys the mission of being the stereotypical black man to prove a point. He along with his much more pallor companion Huck go on exciting adventures that unfold the events which expose the racist conduct of the time. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Twain saturates his novel with potent images of acute racism severe enough as to create a satirical mien that exposes the absurdity of prejudice.
In Toni Morrison’s novel Beloved, Sethe, Denver, and Paul D each attempt to cope with their horrific pasts amidst a world haunted by the horrors of slavery. Paradoxically, these memories of despair often accompany intense feelings of motherly love, desire, and hope. Throughout the novel, the color red symbolizes this dichotomy through representing both the past memories of violence, hatred, and death associated with slavery along with the feelings of love, desire, and hope for a better future. After horrific oppression and brutality at Sweet Home plantation and the prison at Alfred, Georgia, Paul D carries a “tobacco tin lodged in his chest” concealing his memories and emotions from his slave life (Morrison 133). Despite Paul D’s fervent attempts to escape his past and conceal the feelings that come with it, he experiences brief pulses of emotion which are represented through the color red.
However, Twain creates a larger hypocrisy by having Huckleberry bewilderingly befriend Jim as he undergoes an internal battle to betray Jim due to the color of his skin. In conclusion, Twain has created an extraordinary story which demonstrates the enormous amount of evil which the white man can create. His showing of white evil appeals to the creation of hypocrisy surrounding racism during this time. The characterization of Huckleberry Finn in relation to Jim is the main focus of the social criticism surrounding the novel. Their complicated relationship as an African American man and a white child led to Twains masterful storytelling of being able to somewhat overcome societies reigns.
When March arrives, he observes Canning’s cruel treatment of his workers. Yet March soon discovers a more complex side to the man. Canning explains that his quite realistic fear of ruin causes him to force the blacks to work continuously. He recognizes that the neglected crops as well as the constant threat from rebels may cause the plantation to
Foreshadowing often appears at the beginning of a story, or a chapter, and helps the reader develop expectations about the coming events in a story. William’s stories include virtues of the the Old South, which take a look at tragic flaw of slavery, and this sparked many of his stories. The Old South was an adherence to the code of chivalry and a belief in natural superiority of the white aristocracy. Throughout his stories, Faulkner contrats notions of the Old South and its decaying values with the newer ideas of the New South. Beginning the story, Faulkner explains how a terrible smell starts to conjure up from Miss Emily Grierson’s house.
Due to the atrocities Heathcliff experienced at the hands of Hindley, he feels the need to punish his nephew in retaliation for the offences of the boy 's father.Consequently, Heathcliff follows in Hindley 's footsteps, further prolonging his own sorrow as his need for retribution continues to soar. After robbing Hareton of a proper education, Heathcliff wrongfully takes pride in his damning decisions that will lead to a lifetime of hardships for Hareton. He delights in informing Nelly that Hareton is a "fool" by his very design, shaping him into an illiterate and tactless boy just as Hindley had done to him. Furthermore, Heathcliff relishes in the knowledge that Hareton 's senselessness is due to his influence, not because the boy was born as an ill-witted individual. Holding the boy back from reaching his full potential would not be as satisfying for Heathcliff if there was little potential to begin with.
He creates powerful imagery to depict the treacherous treatment slaves are enduring that floods the audience with shame. He provides them with a chance to recall their moral standards and compare them to slavery. He questions them to evoke the truth that slavery is never justifiable. The denouement of his speech is that it is patent to his audience that celebrating freedom with slavery existing is atrocious and want to eradicate
Desiree and Armand—her husband who is a plantation owner and bares a strong historical name in the south—are challenged by the conflict of one of them not being completely from white heritage. Armand, in his first few months of young love states, “What did it matter about a name when he could give her one of the oldest and proudest in Louisiana?” (Chopin 1); when speaking about his bride to be. During a visit from Desiree’s mother; Desiree states that Armand, “hasn’t punished one of them—not one of them—since baby is born. Even Négrillon, who pretended to have burnt his leg that he might rest from work—he only laughed, and said Négrillon was a great scamp. Oh, mamma, I’m so happy; it frightens me.” (Chopin 2).